Researchers in Melbourne, Australia, announced on Wednesday that they have developed an artificial intelligence tool capable of detecting tiny brain malformations in children with epilepsy, helping doctors identify hard-to-spot lesions and provide quicker access to potentially life-changing surgery.
The development was unveiled by a team at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, who trained the tool to find structural brain abnormalities that are often missed on standard Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans.
The project was led by Emma Macdonald-Laurs, a paediatric neurologist at the hospital. She explained that the AI tool was trained on child brain images to identify lesions “the size of a blueberry or smaller.”
Describing its function, Dr Macdonald-Laurs said: “The tool doesn’t replace radiologists or epilepsy doctors, but it’s like a detective that helps us put the puzzle pieces together quicker so we can offer potentially life-changing surgery.”
By identifying such lesions earlier, the tool could play a vital role in ensuring children are assessed more quickly for surgical interventions, which in many cases can significantly improve or even eliminate seizures.
The announcement highlights the growing role of artificial intelligence in healthcare, particularly in fields where vast amounts of complex data need to be analysed. AI systems can rapidly scan medical images, identify patterns invisible to the human eye, and provide doctors with new insights to guide their diagnoses.
Researchers note that while epilepsy can arise from many causes, structural brain abnormalities account for roughly 30 per cent of cases. When these abnormalities are identified, surgical treatment becomes a possibility.
However, they explain, the challenge lies in detection especially the smallest lesions, sometimes hidden at the bottom of a brain fold. By overcoming these blind spots, the new AI tool offers clinicians a sharper diagnostic lens.
Surgery is often regarded as a life-changing treatment for children with severe epilepsy, particularly when seizures do not respond to medication. Identifying structural causes quickly is key to ensuring patients are not delayed in receiving appropriate care.
With this AI tool, pediatrics, neurologists, radiologists, and epilepsy specialists may be able to collaborate more efficiently, leading to earlier interventions and improved quality of life for affected children.
While the technology is still in its clinical testing phase, the Melbourne research highlights how innovation can transform the management of neurological conditions. By combining medical expertise with advanced computing, researchers hope to bridge the gap between diagnosis and treatment.